What is a Local Involvement Network?

Have you heard about LINks before? Often people who use services don’t feel they have enough say in being able to change or improve their health and social care. Local involvement networks are being set up nationally to replace the former patient and public involvement forums (PPIFs) to provide new ways to have an influence.

LINks will:

Aim to represent everyone in the community – not just those who are already engaged but also those not currently being heard
Have the power to investigate issues of concern, demand information, enter and view services, make reports and recommendations, and refer issues to local councillors
Provide a one-stop-shop for the community to engage with care professionals and vice versa

LINk for Oxfordshire

Please note that Oxfordshire LINk is in the process of moving to a new Host Organisation - 'Oxfordshire Rural Community Council' (ORCC) from 3rd May 2011.

Oxfordshire LINk is made up of individuals and community groups who care about our health and social care services and work together to make improvements. One of the aims of Oxfordshire LINk is to make sure your opinion is listened to about how local services are planned, developed and delivered. The group is independent of the NHS and the local authority.

What Oxfordshire LINk can do for you?

investigate specific issues of concern to the community
use powers to hold services to account and get results
ask for information and get answers in a specified amount of time
carry out spot checks to see services are working well
refer any outstanding issues to the local Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Oxfordshire County Council if it seems that action is not being taken.

Who can join?

Anyone can join - carers, service users, community leaders, patient representatives - everyone's views matter. Groups can also join to ensure the needs of their community are listened to.